How To Create A Moody Office: 4 Simple Steps

This post explains the home design choices that I used to create a moody office with dark academia accents in our 1st home.

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If you’re up to speed on TikTok & Insta, then you know I just wrapped up the office to study makeover series. I spent time transforming Cory’s boring office into a moody study, and to say I’m obsessed is an understatement.

This was the first room makeover in our new house. It was a priority to finish this first because Cory works from home, and needed a space that was functional & motivational. Check & check. The result is just that & more. Here are the 4 necessary components to the perfect moody office.

#1: A Rich Color Scheme: Setting The Mood

When it comes to a moody office, a rich color scheme is the foundation. In our case, we opted for a combination of black, white, and dark mahogany. This surprised even me, as I usually avoid reds like the plague. In typical Megan fashion, I heavily accented with brassy golds.

We opted for wallpaper, & it immediately brought an old-world feel to the room. I would choose wallpaper again & again for a space like this. Choosing a “busier” pattern of wallpaper helped to carry the layered and collected vibe we aimed for in our decor styling. I personally lean towards a muted wallpaper color story with a busier pattern for spaces like this!

I decided to install chair rail and picture frame moulding on the lower third of the walls. This was my first time doing both, & it was SO much easier than I expected. If you’re a beginner or intermediate DIY-er, try it!

The combination of wallpaper and moulding is perfect, but you can achieve a similar effect with affordable options like paint and modest trim. It all depends on the size of your room & your budget!

@ahousetohomey

To paint the vinyl windows or not to paint… Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I’ve already made up my mind though (IG stories knows 🤫). The wall moulding was much easier than I thought, and painting the trim & casing was the icing on the cake. Like I said, as a midwesterner I feel like I never saw statement baseboards or window casing which made the transformation even better for me. Trust the process on the black, I promise when tomorrow’s DIY built-in bookcases get installed you’ll start to see the vision come to life! See you tomorrow for day 5 of this moody office makeover! 🛠️ #roommakeoverseries #officemakeover #buildergradeupgrade #vintagemodernhome #homedesignseries #homediy #moodyoffice #statementwallaper #darkacademiahome

♬ Oogum Boogum Song – Brenton Wood

 #2: Focal Point Furniture: Anchoring The Moody Office

Every moody office needs a focal point that sets the vibe of the space. For us, that was a vintage clawfoot desk that I thrifted. It became the star of the show in our space, and the entire mood board was built around it.

Typically, when I design any room, I look for a statement piece of furniture and then try to build a story around that particular item. Often times that piece is one-of-a-kind or at least a super unique thrifted find. This leads to a slower finishing of our home, but I couldn’t care less. The result is a room that tells a story, and that’s what I hope for in any room I enter.

We also incorporated budget-friendly, DIY, built-in bookcases. They added insane height to the room. Here’s a video explaining how I did them. Placing them right behind the desk created an immediate focal point when entering the room.

The combo of a great furniture piece & the impact of floor to ceiling bookshelves really pack a punch on the first look. You could get away with just doing the desk, but I think the two together are perfection. Plus what a good WFH backdrop!!

#3: Layered & Collected Decor: Curated Charm

I have a love hate relationship with decor. It’s the absolute best part of a space & brings everything together. On the other hand, it can be SO expensive, impossible to find what you need, and starting to decorate can be overwhelming.

In a moody office, the decor is where you can truly let your creativity shine. Moody, old-world spaces thrive on a curated mix of thrifted and new decor items. I aimed for a layered, collected, & “imperfect” look & really embraced “more is more”.

One of my favorite tricks was utilizing my print-to-painting hack. I chose to hang the “original” looking art in unconventional spaces to make the space feel more layered.

Each shelf became a canvas to tell a unique story. For example, on the bottom shelf, we placed a large chessboard game set, which serves both as a decorative piece and a functional item. We also created a “cigar station” using a cigar from our wedding and a collection of matches, adding a touch of nostalgia. We’re big bourbon fans, so we dedicated a space to showcase vintage glasses and a decanter of our favorite bourbon.

By embracing imperfection, you allow your decor to tell a story and infuse the space with character. Remember, it’s the small details and unexpected combinations that create a truly special space.

@ahousetohomey

Which do you lean towards? Method 1 or 2? 2 is my go-to for a more authentic look. “Original art” is an overstatement. Of course nothing beats actual original art, but when you’re working with a tight budget or want a specific piece of historic art this is a great decor hack. If you’re able to, supporting artists is always best. 🫶🏼 I source majority of my prints from the art institute of chicago or the met. Public domain = art you’re allowed the legally use. There are exceptions to what uses, but personal use is absolutely fine. There are SO many amazing options, but it can be overwhelming with where to start. If you’d like a more detailed “how-to” with some good art finds, I’ll send out a blog post in a future newsletter this month that gives a more detailed explanation on how to source art! To subscribe the 🔗 is in my bi0! #homedecordiy #easyhomediy #budgetfriendlydiy #homedesignhack #modernvintagestyle #vintageartdecor #wallartdiy

♬ Oogum Boogum Song – Brenton Wood

#4: Multifunctional Spaces: Versatility Meets Intimacy

When I think of a moody study, I think of a place you work, a place you read, and a place you enjoy a good cocktail with great company. To get the most out of our moody office, we made it a multifunctional space. My thought process was, “how can this space be used in the morning, evening, and on the weekend in different ways?”

The primary use is, of course, an office space. However, when the sun sets and I need a cozy reading space it is the most tranquil room in the house. A highlight was undoubtedly the creation of a cozy reading nook. A cozy chair, side table, & ambient lighting was all it took.

It can also easily transform into the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail with the switch of a light. For lighting specifically, we reached toward our favorite hue lights. In this room we used the traditional bulbs, but we also own & love the can lights too! At night, we also flip on our battery-rechargeable, no-hardwire-needed, art light for a mood setter!

Bringing the moody office together…

This was such a fun 1st room makeover in our new home! As I said, dark & red are not typically in my wheelhouse, yet this room is my current favorite? We often assign a purpose to a room without allowing ourselves to live in it first. Challenge yourself to find additional purposes for certain rooms in your house. Moral of the story, don’t be afraid to try something bold or break a rule in your space. After all, it is your home.